What it is
Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

What it is
TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

What it is
HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

The Sony W800C LED TV features Google's Android TV. It has good picture quality in a dark room, and it doesn't reflect a lot of light. However, it can't get very bright, and the colors are different off-axis.

Good value:
Full-array/direct lighting is better for local dimming. As for the uniformity of the screen, it depends on the implementation. Some edge-lit TVs have more uniform blacks than some full-array TVs.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

When it matters:
Bright highlights, present on screen for a short time; especially for SDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is
Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

What it is
TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

What it is
HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

Grid issue in Game mode

The Sony W800C has a very interesting issue when displaying an alternating pixel pattern under Game or Graphics mode. In the pictures below, you can see that notepad affects the colors in the pink area (which is an alternating pink/black pixel grid).

Sony W800CCustom Mode

Sony W800CGame Mode

Almost every LCD TV has this issue, but you usually can't perceive it. With this Sony W800C though, it is really noticeable. This is nothing to worry about, because it is very rare that you will display a pattern exhibiting this issue, even when using it as a PC monitor.

Clearness

Like the Sony X850C, the W800C has the Motionflow setting with a Clearness slider to control the backlight. The more you increase it, the clearer the picture becomes, but at the cost of flickering and a darker picture.

Last year's W800B, if it's still available. They have the same picture quality (except better 3D on the newer one). The W800C has the new Android smart OS, but also a higher input lag (37ms vs 24ms). So if you are a gamer, get the older KDL50W800B. Otherwise, get the cheaper of the two.

I got the KDL50W800C. Well... Really, brightness is not that bad. And 3D is for sure muuuch better than the W800B. Black Uniformity is not that good, but not horrible. You can fix that with Clearness in the Motionflow option, but at the cost of flickering and a darker picture.
My only question is, when I turn on the TV (pushing power on the remote) it takes about two seconds to turn on. After the TV warms up, the process takes about one second. Is this normal? I think it is, but I'd like to hear your opinion.
Thank you!

We've noticed that with our Sony TVs too, so it looks like it's typical for them.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the TV.

Is there going to be a smart remote for the 800C available as an accessory?

There is a Touchpad remote available, but it's really not worth using. If you have an Android or iOS phone or tablet, get the free TV SideView app instead. It has more functionality, and feels more natural to use.

This model does not run Playstation Now the way the box advertises it does. When I could not figure out how to make it work, I contacted Sony and was told the feature did not work on Android TVs yet, and would be updated in the future. The box clearly states the feature is available. Do not buy if you are looking to stream PS games.

You stated "The TV accepted a 120 fps input, but it didn't pass the frame skipping test." Does that mean it can accept a 120Hz signal, or there was a specific 120 fps test that is different from the 120Hz signal?

What we mean is that the TV can accept a 120 hz signal, but it displays that signal in 60 hz. With our 120 fps frame skipping test, a TV that passes will light up all 120 rectangles each second. This TV only lit up every second rectangle, meaning the TV was only displaying 60 fps.

Bought the W800b and have 30 days to return. The Smart features are "OK" for my use (DLNA over network, works great vs local usb), but the 3D is horrible; really bad. So I'm second-guessing my choice.
I was going to go for the 800C, but the brightness stopped me. How can the brightness be so low? Could you have a 'dud' panel, or could this be a firmware bug?

No, this isn't the first time we've seen a TV with maximum brightness within this range. If you're able to get past the brightness issue, the 3D is much better with the 800C, so you should go for it.

How do you completely turn off this TV and not leave it on idle mode? So I can turn the TV off.

The power button puts the TV into an idling state, and if you don't touch the TV for long enough, it will shut itself off. Aside from that (and from unplugging the TV), there's no other option to shut the TV off completely.

It's snappier and looks nicer. The app selection still isn't great, but the basics are covered. It should also keep getting more functional over time. Since other brands also use Android TV, development is going to continue for a while to come.
It's not worth buying a Sony TV just for the smart features, but they are better than they were, and will continue to improve.

About USB: System is asking for me to safely remove my USB flash drive, but there is no such option in settings. Soooo... how can I do that? :) Also, Google voice search doesn't work.

You can just remove the USB drive. Google voice search will only work if you use a microphone-equipped device. If you have an Android phone, you can connect to your TV with this app to use voice search.

I am thinking of taking the w800c refurbished tv as a warranty replacement for a w600b. My room has 1 window (with shutters), I watch sports , reg tv , and movies (3d not important). It seems like a good choice. What do you think about the brightness issue? Also do you know if factory refurbished is pretty much like new?

As long as the TV has been refurbished by the manufacturer, it should be in great condition or even like new. The w800c won't get as bright as the w600b but it doesn't reflect a lot of light so it will be fine for your room and a good replacement for the w600b.

First, I have to say how awesome you guys are to provide us those detailed reviews of TVs. You guys have really helped me out with picking TVs.
I noticed that last year's Sony KDL50W800B has a better review than this year's Sony KDL50W800C, excepting the 3D feature. I read the comment that you guys recommend last year's model over this year's model if it's still available.
I have found the Sony KDL50W800B sold by Amazon.com for $101 cheaper than the Sony KDLW800C. I am a part time gamer and Netflix viewer, and I am leaning towards getting last year's model. My only concern is since you guys stated in the Sony KDL50W800B review that "This television has been discontinued and replaced by KDL50W800C."
Are there going to be issues in terms of warranty or future repair, such as certain parts not being available anymore? Is the W800B being discontinued a big enough issue that I should get the W800C model instead? Thank You, and sorry about the long question.

Sony has plenty of parts/replacement units on hand, so you don't need to worry about warranty and repair issues. In the absolute worst case scenario, where your TV was broken inside the warranty window and Sony had no parts or replacement units, they would have to give you a replacement (likely the W800C).
TVs are always discontinued year to year, so don't let that deter you. Go for it.

I just spoke to Sony through live chat and was told that the KDL55W800C is a native 60 hz panel. Why do you list it at 120 hz? The manual also listed it at 60 hz.
Could they have changed the model or something?

No, no changes. It was able to interpolate 60 fps video, which confirms that it is 120 hz. Amazon also lists it as having a native 120 hz panel. It's likely the chat support agent was mistaken, and we don't see any clear indication in the manual that the TV is only 60 hz.

I enjoyed your review so I ended up buying this TV with the 3d glasses you provided in the link up above. I was wondering how you synced these (Samsung ssg-5150gb) glasses to the TV. I tried going to settings and pairing with Bluetooth but nothing. Any info would be appreciated.

Activate the 3D on the television, then press the button on the glasses and they should pair up by themselves. You don't need to pair them via Bluetooth. Note that sometimes the pairing doesn't work right away, so keep pressing the button until it does.

What's the size of the W800C TV you reviewed? Also, are the values you found for the contrast and viewing angle always going to be the same for all 50 inch and 55 inch W800C TVs? I ask this because I'm deciding between buying the KDL50W800C, KDL55W800C, and last year's KDL55W800B.

We reviewed the 50" model, and we expect the contrast and viewing angle numbers to be about the same for all W800C TVs.
Both of those TVs are good. If you're a gamer, you might prefer the lower input lag of the W800B. If you like 3D, or if you want Android TV, get the W800C. Otherwise, just get the cheaper option.

Hi guys, :)
I just returned 50 inch Samsung JU7100 due to a serious defect, and I am thinking about getting 50 inch Sony W800C instead because it is $400 cheaper, and I am not sold on 4K yet. Sony W800C looks like a solid set. However, I have three reservations about it because I watch a lot of 3D, so good 3D performance is important to me.
You guys state that W800C can not get very bright. A TV with good brightness is important for active 3D because active 3D reduces a TV's brightness significantly. FYI, this TV will be used during the day (moderately-lit room) and the evening/night (dimly-lit room).
Do you guys feel that the TV is not bright enough with 3D and 2D content?
Do the whites look white in 2D and 3D?
Does everything look like it has been shot in the evening in 2D and 3D?
HDTVTest recently reviewed W805C, which as I understand, is a European counterpart to W800C. In their review, HDTVTest mentions that W805C loses half of its vertical resolution in 3D mode. In other words, W805C only displays 1920 by 540 in 3D. This is a major concern for me.
Did you notice the vertical resolution loss on W800C in 3D mode?
Does the image look softer in 3D than 2D?
Are the horizontal lines visible in 3D?
Finally, the last year model (W800B) is widely reported to have a lot of 3D cross talk.
How is the cross talk on W800C in comparison to JU7100?
I am currently torn between getting JU7100 again or getting W800C instead. If this helps, I am planning to use W800C for Netflix/Amazon/Hulu Plus streaming, Blu-rays (2D and 3D), antenna channels via TIVO, and PS4.
How does 3D on JU7100 compare to 3D on W800C overall?
Thanks!

The W800C is pretty dull in a bright room, and the issue is especially pronounced with 3D material.
The whites look white with 2D, but a bit gray with 3D.
The W800C does indeed have vertical resolution loss when playing 3D material.
But the image also didn't look particularly soft in 3D, and we didn't notice any horizontal lines.
We didn't notice much crosstalk with the W800C.
The two huge advantages of the JU7100 over the W800C are that it can get really bright and it doesn't have the same resolution loss with 3D. It also has less input lag, which is good for gaming. If you're on the fence and don't mind paying a little extra, those features make the JU7100 worth it over the W800C.

Yesterday i was watching Vudu (using Boxee) and after 20 min. I decided to go back to the Vudu menu. And I heard a crack. Not loud, and it does not exactly sound like a crack. It is more like a clap, but the clap was not loud. Well, Sony eSupport says this:
A popping or crackling sound is heard when changing channels using a cable box.
If the popping or crackling noise only occurs when changing channels using a cable box, then the cable box may be the issue. Likewise, if the noise does not occur when changing channels using the built-in tuner of the TV or when changing video inputs, the TV is most likely not the cause.
NOTE: Some cable or satellite set-top boxes allow the user to select a specific output setting. Changing the output setting to 1080i and audio output to PCM on these select boxes may help overcome this issue. Consult your cable or satellite service provider for model-specific information and further troubleshooting steps.
Thanks.

It doesn't sound like anything to be too concerned about. You may want to keep track of when you hear the sound and make sure it doesn't happen with increased frequency. Contact Sony again if it gets any worse.
Thank you for sharing your experience and Sony's response.

Hi, first of all, thank you very much for all your hard work in putting these reviews together. It has certainly helped me narrow down my search for a reasonably priced TV. I don't want to spend extra $ on 4K at this time.
I'm debating between these two models - Sony KDL55W800C and Samsung 55"J6300.
Overall between these two models, which would you recommend in your opinion? Anything specific I should consider in advance? (Viewing conditions and use: average/normal living room - moderate to dim lit).

The J6300 is the better option overall. The W800C can't get bright at all, so it's really only ideal in a totally dark space. Apart from that, both TVs offer pretty similar picture, so they're both good choices.

I have read that there are connectivity issues with the KDL50W800C. I have a 4k Samsung that I'm returning due to connectivity issues - it will not stream Netflix. I read reviews about the Sony W800C that say it has the same issue. Does it?

We haven't had any issues streaming with our W800C, so you should be fine.

I just read the review of the Sony 55W805C on Digital Versus, and according to that review, this TV has bad 3D picture. So a 50" model has better 3D compared to the 55"?

We noticed the same issue with 3D content, which is that there is vertical resolution loss, so the 3D should be the same for both TVs. That's not something we consider with our 3D score, though, so it didn't affect our rating. We may change that for next year's scoring, as vertical resolution loss is indeed a downside.

Here again like last year, but I'm am more weary of the deception of advertisement.
Questions arise about the W800C/B. You are basically saying that the C model is not a 120 hz TV, because even though it can receive 120 hz, it will not display 120 fps. What about the B? Is that one a true 120 hz / 120 fps TV?
Or are they like Vizio, where you only get 120 fps at 60" or larger TVs?

We didn't test the W800B for 120 fps capability, so we can't say whether it's capable of accepting that input or not.
The 2015 Sony X* series TVs are able to accept and display 120 hz signals, and not all of them are 60" or larger. It's just down to the hardware they used for the 1080p models vs the 4k models, and not strictly about size or panel refresh rate.

How can I connect a Creative 5.1 Home Theater system with Sony 43W800C?

It is possible either with optical output, or HDMI ARC passthrough. If your audio system supports one of these input, then use that. If not, and it only has 3.5mm cables (like most PC audio system) then you can connect the green cable to the side of the TV but you will only get stereo sound.

Hi. Thanks for these detailed ratings. I'm leaning towards the KDL55W800C because of some of its features, but am very concerned about what you mention about the brightness problem. From what you described, it almost seems like the whites would be more like grays. Am I right? It seems like that would be a major issue, especially in one of the biggest brands. Having never had an HDTV set bigger than 22", I'm not familiar with brightness issues or variations.
You give ratings of the brightness in a lit room, but what is the brightness of this set in a totally dark room, and how would it compare to other similar sets? Is it something that is a problem? I notice that you say it doesn't get bright, but this set is still among your notable mentions for its class.
Is the brightness on this set unusually low compared to others in its price and size range?
Also, do you know how the brightness on the 55" model compares to that on the 50", or is it pretty much the same regardless of size? Thank you!

In a totally dark room, this TV does just fine for brightness, as most TVs do. It's really only in bright rooms that this TV can't compete. It's less that the whites won't look white, but more that the overall image will be difficult to see in a bright room.
The W800C is the second-dimmest TV we've reviewed this year, and there are many options in its price range (and cheaper) that are quite a bit better for brightness.
We have only tested the 50", but we expect they're about the same.

I recently bought this TV and wall mounted it above my fireplace. The power supply, however, is too short to correctly wire it around the fireplace. Where can I purchase a longer power supply?

There's no official option, and so there isn't a truly good solution. You might be able to find an extension, but an extension for that kind of cable is very rare. It would be easier to use a regular extension cable and lengthen the connection that way. Keep in mind that this might lead to the brick dangling, which isn't ideal.

After some time, do you still feel the 2015 Vizio E-series is better than the Sony w800c? I originally wanted to get the Sony in 55", but when I came on your site I read your thoughts and recommendation to get the Vizio E55, since it's a better value.
I use my TV mainly for cable football and basketball games, news, movies, and it will be in my bedroom. I have a PS4, which I use to play DVDs and Blu-ray movies, as well as video games, in my free time. I'm a decent gamer, meaning I play about 2-4 hours a day.
I like the Sony for its Android TV and PlayStation Now features, and because it's a native 120 hz panel, while the Vizio is only 60 hz. With what I stated, is the Vizio the better option over the Sony TV? And what really makes one better than the other besides price?
Is the 60 hz and 120 hz that much of a difference that I should get the Sony more than the Vizio over it? If I go with Vizio I'll get the 60", and if I get the Sony it will be the 55". Obviously 60" is better since it's bigger, but I don't mind a 55" at all, since I'll be sitting 7-8 feet from the TV and own a 37" Vizio E-series currently, which is much smaller than both sizes. Thanks.

Get the E-series. It's better for gaming (less blur and lower input lag), and the picture quality is good. You'll appreciate the larger screen size, too.
The 60 hz vs 120 hz isn't that big of a deal for these models, so don't worry about that.

Thanks for the detailed review, it makes things clear and helps to take a decision! I really like this TV and my room does not get that bright. I mostly watch TV at night, with a low 60w light. Do you think the TV's low brightness will be really bad in my case? I can always return it if I am not satisfied, but I would like to know your opinion. Thanks!

No, it will be fine. The low brightness is mostly a problem for rooms with a lot of lights, or that get lots of sunlight. Your setup will work fine.

Live football mode, brighter picture, no surround. How do you get surround sound while watching non sports?

The special 'Live Football' sound mode has been made to sound a very specific way (emphasis the ambient sounds and remove the commentary) and that is why you can't play with the surround setting while it's On. The only way to be able to play with the surround setting is when the sound mode is set to 'Standard', 'TV Speakers' is selected and 'Clear audio+' is turned Off. You can also increase/decrease the surround effect under 'Sound mode related' and 'Surround effect'. You can always use that mode to listen to football too and the surround sound will work as it should.

I recently purchased the 55W800C and then noticed deep down in the feature list online that it offers some sort of recording feature using one of the usb ports. I can't find any more info on it except that the TV Sideview app plays some part in it. This would be an extremely useful feature to me since I don't use pay tv. I'm wondering if you guys can confirm or deny that this feature exists. I tried connecting a small usb flash drive but it wouldn't do anything. Would a large flash drive[32/64/128GB] work or would I need to get an external hard drive. Any info on this would be helpful. Thanks!

That feature isn't available in the U.S. yet. Only some European Sony TVs can record to USB HDD at the present, even if the feature is said to be available on the x810c on the Sony website.

Having recently purchased a KDL50W800c have now discovered cannot stream 3D content from VUDU, even though VUDU app comes preloaded on TV. Can you tell me if this ability might be included in an up coming update, or if there are plans to make the VUDU 3D streaming possible ever? Can stream HDX but not 3D and since VUDU is largest 3D content provider it would have been nice to know this was not available before purchasing the TV. Also cannot find the remote APP in iTunes store that included keyboard, could you recommend specific remote app that includes keyboard? Thanks for the help.

We have no idea whether 3D will be available in 3D anytime soon via the app. As for a remote app that has a keyboard, we aren't aware of one at the moment.

is not bright enough. If I set it to clearness 3 it is bright enough but what is clearness 3? Is there any backlight strobing with clearness 3? I am frustrated by the lack of information about these settings. I found on another website that clearness 4 is 60FPS @ 120Hz and clearness 5 is 60FPS @ 60Hz.

I'm building a Gaming PC, and I'll be using the GeForce GTX 970 for the graphics card. How will the games run on the PC if I were to use this TV as a Monitor? Will there be skipping when set to 1080p 60hz Chroma 4:4:4?

It all depends of the video card, not the TV. Your games will run as good as the video card can do in 1920x1080. If the card is powerful enough in 1080p, the TV won't skip in 1080p 60hz Chroma 4:4:4.

I just bought this TV upon recommendation from this website. The TV is great and appreciate the review as well. In regard to 3D glasses, I am hoping to buy the "Samsung SSG-5150GB 3D Active Glasses" mentioned also in this Q&A section. After checking with Sony they mention that these glasses will not work with my this TV model. Is it to promote Sony specific products? or does it really have technical compatibility issues? Another user mentions he had issues connecting the same glasses with this Tv model. Is the problem related? I apologize for this lengthy question. Will highly appreciate a solid response.

That's strange, because they definitely worked on ours. Since about 3 years now, the 3D glasses have a universal standard, so all active 3D glasses works on all active 3D TVs (note that 2012 and older glasses/TVs are brand specific). Sometimes the sync takes a while to make, but even Samsung glasses on Samsung TVs have the same problem.

Hi Guys. Thanks for your effort in reviewing the TV. I recently bought a W800C. Earlier, 'Live Football Mode' worked fine, but then I tried to change the settings on the TV. Now football mode doesn't work like the way it did earlier. I don't know what settings I changed before. Anyway, how do I get the original live football mode effect?
Note: I tried to reset the factory settings in picture & sound, but it didn't work.

How does the sharpness setting interact with the display? Is it just an enhancement like on other displays? I'm accustomed to dropping the setting to 0 and then increasing it until just before seeing ringing, but it looks far more "out of focus" than I'm accustomed to when at 0.

I have applied the recommended custom settings and I'm encountering a rainbow effect that's noticeable in dark scenes. This effect is also showing up in facial images and also cinema modes. Any help is appreciated!

It's likely an issue with the white balance settings not being correct for your TV. Reset those to the defaults and you should be fine.

I am a bit confused on using the 3D, what should I exactly do to activate my 3D glasses? Would I have to download 3D movies to watch them in 3D or can I watch any 3D movie on channels with 3D glasses on? What are the settings I need to do activate the 3D? Now coming to gaming, I'm planning to buy a PlayStation 4 soon. Does it have any problems in playing PS4 as one of the users said something about PlayStation? What additional things should I do to bring the best out of 43W800C? Thanks in advance!

The best way to enjoy 3D is through a 3D blu-ray player with a 3D blur-ray movie. The TV will automatically switch to 3D when it detects the 3D signal then you just have to press the power button on your glasses to activate them. There is also other kinds of 3D. 'Side-by-side' 3D is when two identical pictures are showing side by side on the screen and 'Top-bottom' 3D is when two pictures are showing one above the other. If the TV doesn't detect those 3D modes automatically, you can activate 3D hitting the 'Action Menu' button on the remote and going under '3D' to select the appropriate mode (you would know which by looking at the screen). So the key element is to get your hands on some 3D contents. There isn't much on cable TV so you would be better with 3D blu-ray discs. For gaming, the w800c will be great with the PS4. If you want, you can try our calibration settings on your TV and see if you like the picture better.

I recently purchased this TV and have it connected to an old Denon AVR-1507 receiver using the digital optical connection. I set sound settings for speakers to 'Audio System' and have tried setting 'Headphone/Audio out' to 'Audio out (variable)' in hopes that I could set the volume at the receiver once and then control the volume just using the TV remote. However, changing volume with the TV remote seems to have no effect on the volume coming out of the speakers plugged into the receiver.

Optical audio's volume output is always fixed; the only thing that is affected by changing 'Audio Out' to variable is the 3.5 mm output. You'll unfortunately need to make your volume adjustments through the receiver.
Another option would be to get a new receiver that supports HDMI ARC. That kind of connection would allow you to control volume with the TV's remote.

I'm not able to pair the "Samsung SSG-5150GB 3D Active Glasses" even though there are two posts here that confirm they are compatible. Can you please detail me the steps you performed to pair them successfully? I follow the Sony & Samsung manual steps, but no luck yet. Thank you very much in advance!

The easiest way is to play 3D content, look at the TV with the glasses on, and then keep pressing the pairing button on the glasses until they connect. It's a little tedious, but it should work.

Does this TV work well for PS4? If not, please suggest a good TV for me.

It's a decent pick. If you're only looking to use your PS4 on the TV, consider getting the Vizio E-series instead. The picture quality will be similar, but with less blur, and the input lag should be the same as (or lower than) the W800C.